Pycreus lanceolatus (PROTA)

Plant Resources of Tropical Africa Introduction

List of species

General importance
Geographic coverage Africa
Geographic coverage World
Fibre

Pycreus lanceolatus (Poir.) C.B.Clarke

Protologue: Consp. Fl. Afr. 5: 538 (1894).

Family: Cyperaceae

Chromosome number: 2n = 42

• Cyperus lanceolatus Poir. (1806),
• Pycreus propinquus Nees (1842).

• Epiphytic flatsedge, lance sedge (En).

Pycreus lanceolatus is widely distributed in tropical Africa, tropical America and the southern United States.

In Madagascar the stems of Pycreus lanceolatus are used for plaiting.

Perennial, loosely tufted herb with a short rhizome or with distant stems arising from creeping stolons; stems up to 75 cm tall and 0.5–2 mm in diameter, 3-angled in cross-section, glabrous, with scales at the base. Leaves inserted in the lower part of the stem; sheath glabrous, dark brown; ligule membranous; blade linear, up to 40 cm × 4 mm, with scabrid margin and midvein (at least near the apex). Inflorescence a terminal, globose head-like anthela 1–4 cm in diameter, with usually many, tightly packed spikelets; bracts 2–3, leafy, spreading, up to 22 cm long. Spikelets sessile, linear-lanceolate, 5–28 mm × 2–4 mm, pale yellow-brown, many-flowered; glumes distichous, ovate, 2–3 mm long, lowermost ones smaller, obtuse at the apex, pale or golden brown, often with red-brown patches and a green midvein; flowers bisexual, stamens 1–3, ovary superior, 1-locular, stigmas 2. Fruit an obovate nutlet 1–1.5 mm × 0.5–1 mm, apiculate, biconvex, grey, red-brown or black, minutely papillose, 1-seeded.

In Senegal Pycreus lanceolatus flowers in August–December(–January).

Pycreus comprises c. 80 species, distributed in the tropical, subtropical and temperate regions of the world. Pycreus intactus (Vahl) J.Raynal (synonyms: Cyperus intactus Vahl, Pycreus ferrugineus (Poir.) C.B.Clarke) is a perennial herb with stems up to 65 cm tall, recorded from Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Madagascar, Réunion, Asia and the Americas. In Madagascar its stems are used for plaiting. The stems of Pycreus rhizomatosus C.B.Clarke (synonym: Pycreus commersonii (C.B.Clarke) Cherm.), endemic to Madagascar, are also used for plaiting. Pycreus mundtii Nees (synonym: Cyperus mundtii (Nees) Kunth) is a perennial, stoloniferous herb with stems up to 40(–60) cm tall, distributed throughout Africa and the Mediterranean region, and rare in tropical America. In experiments in the 1950s using the sulphate process the pulp yield of material from Zimbabwe was low and the pulp was wet and fairly weak. The stem is recorded to be unsuitable for thatching. Pycreus mundtii is a C₄ plant. In Madagascar it is a troublesome weed in rice fields.

Pycreus lanceolatus occurs from sea level up to 2100 m altitude on river banks, in marshes, wet grassland and other wet locations. It is a common weed in rice fields.

Natural reproduction of Pycreus lanceolatus is by seed and rhizomes.

In view of its wide distribution and common occurrence Pycreus lanceolatus seems not liable to genetic erosion.

Pycreus lanceolatus is only locally used for plaiting, and its importance is unlikely to increase.

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• Akoègninou, A., van der Burg, W.J. & van der Maesen, L.J.G. (Editors), 2006. Flore analytique du Bénin. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, Netherlands. 1034 pp.

• M. Brink, PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

Brink, M., 2011. Pycreus lanceolatus (Poir.) C.B.Clarke. [Internet] Record from PROTA4U. Brink, M. & Achigan-Dako, E.G. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. <http://www.prota4u.org/search.asp>.

Accessed 31 May 2025.

• See the Prota4U database.